Multiselective phonograph



f Feb. 25, 1947.

J. F. EAKlNs 2,416,436

MULTISELECTIVE PHONOGRAPH Filed April 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

a magazine.

Patented Feb. r25, 1 947 John `F. Eakins, Evanston, Ill., assigner to J. Pl Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corpora.

tion ofy Illinois.

Application April 22, 1944, serial 10.532297 7 Claims.

This invention relates to multiselective phonographs and has for its principal object the provision of a multiselective phonograph which can readily `be put intoA operation to reproduce a program of recordings in predetermined order from the recordings. available .on the phonograph.

Inv my pending application Serial No. 531,902 led April 20, 1944, I have described and claimed a phonograph of this type in which a stack of tokens is arranged in thel order desired for the recordings. Each'token is provided with means ,for creating trains of impulses which actuate stepping means to actuate one of a plurality of selector members individual to each token and to the recording corresponding thereto. The impulses are created by each tokenl as` it is dispensed from operation of the dispensing means so that only one selector member is actuated at any time so that the phonograph plays the recordings in the order determined by the order of the tokens in the magazine,

In accordance with the present invention the -stepping Vmechanism is rendered unnecessary.

The token dispensing means is mechanically connected to an actuator and each token determines individually the point of time which the actuator actuates the selector member individual to the token being dispensed. Y

The preferred embodiment of the invention hereafter described is adapted to control a phonograph having 100 available recordings. Since it is desired to keep the tokens of moderate size, I prefer to employ a plurality, for example five, actuators. impulsecreating means on the token and these impulsecreating means may be located along any of five lines on the token. The impulse creating means on the token may be located in any of twenty positions along each line. Thus with a token about three inches long the longitudinal spacing between the positions of the impulse creating means on the token may be about one- .seventh of an inch. Consequently the operation is not highly critical and correct actuation of the .actuator can be obtained-.without extreme precision of assembly or adjustment. A y y l The invention will be readily understood from the following description of a-preferred embodiment thereofy 4taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved magazine and actuator assembly shown in cooperative rela- .tion to 100 selector members;

The selector memberscontrol the- Each actuator is controlled by anV Fig. 2 is an elevational view, magazine and associated parts, part of the magazine wall beingA broken away to show the manner in which the tokens are stacked in the magazine;

Fig. Bis an elevational view of the actuator assembly, associated parts of the phonograph including the assembly of selector members, the selector member assembly being shown in section, together with a wiring diagram;

Fig. 4 is an elevational detail View taken on theline 4-4 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is an elevational, View' of the discharge end of the magazine, the small supporting table being removed; and

side of a token.

Referring to the drawings the phonograph motor is indicated by the reference numeral IDL ,This phonograph comprises 10'0 selector members I I which are arranged to be projected from their normal position shown in Fig. 3, upwardly by 'means of iive actuators I2. The selector` members I I are grounded andwhen they are actuated upwardly they make vcontact with an insulated ring I3. The ring I3 is connected'to` a relay I4 which is connected to the ungrounded end of a secondary of a transformer I5; The uli-grounded side of 'this secondary is also connected to one side of a normally open switch I6 and to one side of aswitch I8. The other sides of the switchesIS and I8 are connected to the ungrounded terminal of the phonograph motor I0..

When one ofthe selector members I I is actuated the relay I4 is `energized so that switch I6 closes.

The motor I0 is thus put into operation. Immediately the motor IIJ goes into operation the switch t8 is closed andthe motor IIl remains in operation 4until the switch I8 is again opened during the next recording changing cycle of the phonograph.. Consequently the'recording Aselected is reproduced completely notwithstanding that the selector members Il may be returned to normal ,position and the switch I6 is opened by the consequent deenergization of the relay I4. After the motor I0 goes into operation the shaft I9 and disc 20 are `driven through at least -a complete revolution. An abutment 2| carried by the disc 20 engages the actuated selector member II andthe disc 20 is arrested. The drive of the vshaft I9 by the motor- I0 is effected through a friction drive which enables the shaft I9 to be arrested in any position determined by which member II is actuated. After this arrestment and ,after the switch I8 is closed, plunger means 22 carried by the disc' 20 is effective to return the Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the under- 3 arresting member II to its initial position. The arrested position of the shaft I9 determines which record is supplied to the turntable and-'reproduced. The phonograph thus briey described may suitably be that described in copending Patents Nos. 2,382,487 and 2,382,488 issued August 14, 1945, to Mahlon W. Kenney and Herman G. Jensen orco-pending application Serial No.v

342,419, filed June 26, 1940, by Marlon R. Winkler.

Said application discloses a plurality of selectorA elements which correspond to the selector menibers I I, a selector shaft which corresponds to-the present shaft I9 and a phonograph motorl controlling switch, which corresponds .to the lpresent switch I3. In that application the selector members were actuated from normal positions by indi- In the present application the vidual solenoids.

fully retracted to the left so that the remaining tokens 3i in the stack mayV move down after each dispensing-operation.

selector members II are actuated mechanically 1 by the actuators I2. Other phonographs are known in which control of ,recording selection is determined by the actuation of one of a series of members each corresponding individually to a recording, and it is to be understood that my invention is equally applicable to all such phonographs. A In the embodiment illustrated the selector members I i are arranged in a circular series land arelOO in number. The selector members I I are slideably mountedin a frame 23. Each selector member is provided with 'two notches24 which are arranged to seat a circular coil spring so thai-each selector member is resiliently held in its yactuated and normal position. The spring 25 is held between two parallel rings carriedb;7 the frame 23. The actuators I2 are levers pivotly mounted on a spider 26 which is rotat-` ably mounted in alignment with the shaft I9 and onthe axis ofther circularfseries1 of members II. The outer ends of the actuators extend below the members Li. Their inner'endsare armatures associated with electromagnets 2 1 carried by the spider 26. One end ofthe winding of veachmagnet 21 isgrounded. The other end `of each wind- .ingfis connected to one side of one of the fivev switches 28 .associated with the tokenmagazine 29.The other sides .of the switches 28 are connected to thejungrounded end of a secondary 30 ofthe transformer I5. It will thus be understood Athat each time o'neof the switches 28 is closed the. electromagnet 21 connected thereto is energized andthe selector member I Iy beneath which the'actuator I2 of the energized velectromagnet ..21 is then located, is moved upwardly into actuatedposition. f

The. magazine 29 consists of an openv topped box into which a stack of Vtokens 3I maybe dropped. Thelowermost token rests upon guide members 32 whichserve as guides for a slide structure 33. The end walls ofthe magazine 29.are provided with lopenings 34 and 35 which enable the upper part oftheslide structure 33 to enter the magazine and discharge the lowermost token .3Ijout o f thejmagazinetowards the 3 right as v.viewed in jFigs.' 1 and 2. The discharging 'yond'the discharging end token is supported' of the magazihe`-byfasrnalltable' 33 from which 'itr fallsinto ya suitablereceptacle orv receiver (not showmg... u

The slide. structure 33 is reciprocated by means of `areversible.,motor 31 which drivesa pinion F33 ata suitablyslow speed through a gear re- 1 duction 39. The pinion 38 meshes with rack teeth 40 carried onthe lower side of the Hslide structure 3 3; c, :The slide structure` 33 carries two projecrtions 4Ijand r42whichare arranged to cooper- 1 l Y ate withan arm 43 'of fa'revers'ing switch' 44. V'The 'the termination ofthereproduction of cording being reproduced.

Just as the projection 42 causes the arm 43 to snap into its full line position in Fig. '2 or an instant before this occurs, the projection 4I opens a switch 45 which is biased towards closing position. The operation of the motor 31 is controlled by alswitch 46 which may be a manually actuated on and oi switch-,which may be mechanically associated with switches (not shown) for supplying energy tothe transformer I5 and to the amplifier of the phonograph, etc.'v In the em'- bcdiment illustratedthe switch 46 is adaptedfto be closed when one or more tokens 3I are in the magazine 29. One pole ofthe switch 46 carries an insulating lpin 41which projects upwardly through an opening 48 any one of the guide members32 so that it is engaged by the lowermost token in YtheY magazine. One power line 49 is connected to one side of the switch 45 and to one side of the switch 46. The other side of the switch 45 is connected to the reversing switch A44 and to one side 0f the normally closedswitch I1 which iscontrolled by the relay`I4.- 'I he other side o f the switch' I1 Ais connected to vthe other side of the switch 46. The reversing switch 44 is connected to the motor 31 bytwo lines 50 and 5I and the motor is also connected to the power line 52.

kWhen no selector member vI I is Yin the actuated position switch I1 is closed.- When one or more tokens is placed inthe magazine 29 the switch 46 is closed. 'I'he circuit of the motor is Vnow completed from line 49through switchv 46, switch li1 and reversing switch 44 to power line 52. The 'motor 31 goes into operation, the pinion 38 rotating in clockwisev direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 so that the lowermost token 3| is dispensed. As will hereinaftervappear this causes one of the members I I to be moved upwardly opening the switch I1 However the motor 3T continues to complete its reciprocati'on because the switch 45 closes and does not openagain until the end of a. complete reciprocatiom At the end of the right hand movement of theslide 33fthe-projection 4I throws the switch arm 43vinto its dotted line position in Figs. 2 and 3 so that the rotation of the pinion 38 is reversed to bring'tlie slide structure 33 back toits initial position throwing the arm 43 to the left andropening theswitch 45. When themembers I i are ,all in their normal position the motor 31 is again vput Vinto operation to dispense another token-and elfe-ct the actuation of the correspondingmember I I. The selector thus tends tokeep one member II in actuated position ready to determine the next recording after the re- `The tokens'3I are inthe form of inverted channels, When the tokens -are stacked in the magazine 29 the side 'anges 53 rest upon the"y upper surface of the token immediately below.v 4On its underside the main: web of thetoken carries av ranged so as to close one'ofV` tlefl've' switchesl 28 ings.

'at a definite time in the dispensing of the token'. As shown in Fig. 6 the projection 54 is located'` on; one of the intersectionsA between one of the v'e' longitudinal lines 5'5'and one of twenty transverse lines 56. These linesintersect at 100 points so' .that the projection 54' is located at oneof 100 possible positions and each one of these possible' positionsl corresponds to one of the 100 record- Thus' in Fig. 6 the projection 54 isA so arranged that it will cooperate with the fourth switch 28 from the top as viewed in Fig. 1 and itwillactuate this switch when theY token is dispensed 16 steps from its' initial' position. Inl Fig, 1 I have shown in dotted lines a projection 54 which cooperates with the uppermost switch 28` in- Fig. 1 when the token has been moved four steps from its initial position. These steps which are defined by the distance between the transverse lines shown in Fig. 6 correspond to movement of the actuators I2 from one member II to the next.

Thel spider 26 carries a flanged sectory 51 upon which rides a belt 58. One end of the belt is secured to the slide structure 33, the other end being anchored to a bracket 59v carried by the sector by means of a threaded clevis 50. Adjustment of the clevis locates the actuators I2 below selector members I'I when any of the projections 54 is closing any of' the switches 28. The spider 26 is biased in the counter-clockwise direction by a spring 6I one end of which is connected to the spider', the other end being connected to the frame supporting it. This spring keeps the belt 58 taut at all times. The belt 53 may suitably be a fine strip of steel or other suitable material `and it may be arranged to pass overan idler 52 if necessary. The sector 51r is sufficiently long so that the belt 58 engagesv it tangentially under all operating conditions.

Each token 29 bears indicia 63 whichidentifies it and the recording to which it corresponds. The name of the recording maybeiapplied to the token. I may number the tokens, for example from 00 to 99. Thus Ithe token shown in Fig. 1 having a projection 54 arranged to close the switch 28 after four steps from initial position may bear the indicia 03. The token shown in Fig. 6 having a projection 54 adapted to close the fourth switch of Fig. 1 after sixteen step movements would bear the indicia 75. On Fig. 1 1 have marked the indicia 03r and '15 opposite the members II which would be actuated by these two tokens. It will be obvious that each of the members II thusy corresponds :to one of the 100 positions for the projection 54 on one of the 100 intersections oi the lines 55 and 56, each intersection determining the positions of the projections 54` on the Various tokens.

The operation is as follows: Y

The operator selects the various tokens corresponding to the recordings which he desires to have reproduced and he arranges the selected tokens in a stack, the iirst token at the bottom of the stack, the next immediately above it and soon. He places the arranged stack in the magazine 29 and thus closes the switch 46. The motor 31 is put into operation so that the slide structure 33 moves to the right moving the lowermost token towards the right and rotating the spider 2li` in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. If the lowermost token is that shown in Fig. 1, then when the spider has moved four steps in the clockwise direction and the downwardly directed actuator I2 is below the selector member I I" marked 03 the projection 54 closes the uppermostswitch 28 and the electromagnet. 21 associ- 4 ated with the downwardiy directed actuator.1 |12.

in Fig. 1, is energized and the selector member' II indicated by 03 on Fig. 1 is displaced upwardly'. If the lowermost token had been that' shown' in' Fig. 6 the projection 54f would. haver actuated the fourth switch 28'- in Fig. 1 and the l actuator I2 directed upwardly'andtowards the right in Fig. 1 would have been actuated by 'litsy electromagnet when that actuator was bel'cw the selectoi` member II' identied by the indicia '15 on Fig. 1' so that that selector member would be actuated, Each switch 2`8i controls one ofthe electromagnets 215 and consequently controls' one of the actuators I2. Each actuator I2 actuates-` any one of the twenty selector members located in the clockwise direction from'lthe position-of the actuator' shown in Fig. 1.

To return to the operation, the selectormember I I corresponding to the lowermost token has'. been displaced upwardly by they momentary energization of the associated electromagnet 2T. The motor 31 continues to operate until the lowermost token has been discharged from the magazine and the sector 51 has attained the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. l". Then the switch 44'is` snapped' bythe projection 4|V so that the motor is reversed and the slide struc-- ture 33 moves to-the left and the sector 51t returnsv to its normal position. The motor 31 then stopsl because a selector member II` is displaced, the relay I is energized and the switch I1 is openeda When the Aiirst selector member IlI was pushed upwardly the switch I6' was closed and thephonograph motor I- was putV into operation. This promptly closed the switch I8 so that themotor continues to operate. The operation of the motor rotates the shaft I9r until the abutment 2| coll'ides with the displaced selector member II and the rotationl of the shaft I9 is terminated: The `phonograph moves the record bearing the desired recording into playing positionV and thereafter the plunger 22 is actuated to returnthe arresting selector member vII to its normal position. This causes the closing of the switch I1 andthe motor 31 is again energized to dispense the second token with the result that the corresponding selector member II is displaced up'- wardly again opening the switch I1. Thus while the first recording is being reproduced the mem.- ber II' correspondingA to the second recording is displaced. After the first recording is completed the shaft I9V again rotates and becomes arrested by the second displaced member II sov thatthe phonograph reproduces the second recording. While the second recording is being reproduced the third token is dispensed and the corresponding selector member II is displaced. This sequence is repeated until all the tokens are dispensed from the magazine. yWhen that occurs the switch 46 opens and when the slide 33 attains its normal position the switch 45 is opened and the motor 31 ceases to operate until another token `or stack of tokens is placed in the magazine 2.9-,y During the playing of the last selected recording the switch I6` is open but the. circuit of thephonograph motor I0 is maintained by the switch I8. After the playing of the last recording the phonograph motor actuates the record changingk mechanism of the phonograph and opens the switch I8 so that the phonograph goes out of operation until the operation is again. resumed bythe insertion of one ora stack of tokens in thev magazine 29.

Ity is'. to be noted that the location of the abut.- ments` 4I. and 42isnot critical. They should` be arranged'so that the slide structure 33 makes a complete dispensing movement and is completely retracted to allowthe-tokens to drop in the magazine.V The actuators I2 should be ad-` justed'by the clevis 60 so that the actuators are exactly vbeneath the proper selector members Il` when the projections `54 arranged on any of the transverse lines 56 close any of the switches 28.

Although the invention has been described in` connection with the specic details of a preferred embodimentk thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as Aset forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1 ,1. A selector for automatic phonographs comprising a plurality ofv selector elements each adapted to control the playing of an individual recording, a plurality of tokens eachv corresponding to an individual recording and element and adapted to be arranged in a stack, magazine means for receiving such a stack, dispensing means adapted to dispense said tokens one at a time from said magazine, an actuator connected to said dispensing meansto move therewith past a. plurality ofV said elements, switch means arranged for cooperation with the dispensing token, switch actuating means at individual vpositions on the tokens whereby said switch means is actuated at a predetermined position of each dispenstions of dispensing for controlling the selectingAv operation yof said actuator.

5. In a selector for automatic phonographs, in combination, a plurality of tokens'adapted to be arranged in a series, Ya magazine for receiving said series,v means for dispensing said tokens one at a time from said magazine, a plurality of switches arranged in transverse relation to the Y dispensing token, each of said tokens having ingtoken, and means controlled by said switching means for actuating said actuator whereby the selector `element individually corresponding to the dispensing record is actuated into selecting position. Y

2, A vselector for automatic phonographs comprising a series of selector elements each adapted for displacement to control the reproduction of a corresponding recording, a plurality of tokens V each corresponding to an individual recording and element and adapted to be arranged in a series of selected order, a magazine for receiving said 4 series yof tokens, dispensing means adapted to I dispense said tokens one at a time from one end of said series, an actuator arranged for movement through positions in which it registers with Va plurality of said elements, means for moving said actuator simultaneously with the dispensing means during its dispensing movement, means for actuating said actuator to effect displacement of a registering element, switch means for controlling last said means, and switch actuating means at an individual position on each token ,whereby the switch is actuated by each token at an individual point of dispensing thus actuating the selector Velement corresponding to the token Ybeing dispensed.

3. A selector for automatic phonographs comprising a series of selector elements each adapted for displacement to control the reproduction of a corresponding recording, a plurality of tokens each corresponding to an individual recording and element and adapted to be arranged in a series of selected order, a magazine for receiving said series of tokens, dispensing means adapted to dispense said tokens one at a time from one end of said series, a plurality of actuators each-arranged to actuate any one of a certain number a single switch actuating element in alignment with one of said switches whereby one of said switches is actuated by each dispensing token, said elements being located at a plurality of posif tions in the longitudinal direction of the tokens whereby a-single one of the switches is actuated at an individual time in the dispensing operation, a series of selecting elements each corresponding to an individual recording, a plurality of actuators each associated with and controlled `by one of said switches ,and means for moving said actuators synchronously with the dispensing token past sub-series of said series of selecting elements whereby the selecting element corresponding to the dispensing token is displaced by its actuator when the switch actuating element of the dispensing token actu-ates the corresponding switch.

6. In a selector for automatic phonographs, in combination, a plurality of tokens arranged to be stacked, a magazine adapted to receive a stack of tokens, dispensing means for dispensing the tokens one at a time, a plurality of switches arranged in the transversev direction of the maga# zine, each token having a single switch actuating element in alignment with one of the switches', said elements being located variously in the longitudinal direction of the token whereby each dispensing token actuates one of the switches at a predetermined point of its dispensing operation, a series of selector members each adapted to be displaced to control the reproduction of a. corresponding recording, a carriage movable past said selector members, a plurality of actuators on said c arriage adapted to displace said members, electromagnetic means associated with each actuator and controlled by one of said switches, and means for operating said dispensing means and moving said carriage simultaneously whereby each dispensing token eiects the actuation of one of the actuators at a predetermined point of the dispensing operation to displace a selector 7. In an automatic multiselective phonograph,

adapted to be displaced to control the reproduction of a corresponding recording, a phonograph motor, switch means associated with each element for energizing the motor when anl element is displaced, switch means: controlled by said motor for maintaining its circuit, recordingse- 4lecting means operable by said motor to engage Aa displaced selector element to control the re- .production of the corresponding recording, auf

tomatic means for returning the engaged selector element to initial position, a plurality of tokens each corresponding to an individual recording, a magazine for receiving a plurality of said tokens, dispensing means for dispensing said tokens one at a time from said magazine, a plurality of switches arranged in the transverse direction of the dispensing movement, a switch actuating means on each token located to close one of said switches during the dispensing operation, said switch actuating means being located at various longitudinal positions on the tokens whereby they cooperate with the switches at various positions of the dispensing operations, a plurality of actuators arranged to cooperate Vwith the selector elements, a plurality of electromagnetic means for operating said actuators, a movable carriage supporting said actuators and said electromagnetic means, means connecting each Switch to an electromagnetic means, motor 10 means ior moving said carriage and said dispensing mea-ns simultaneously, and means controlled by said selector elements for rendering said motor means inoperative when a selector element is displaced and operative when no selector element is displaced.

JOHN F. EAKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES vPATENTS 

